Artwork
Bouquet with Blue Iris in a Glass Vase
Bouquet with Blue Iris in a Glass Vase is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Davidsz. de Heem. It dates from 1660 and is held in the collection of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a vibrant arrangement of irises and tulips in a glass vase, accompanied by a butterfly, snail, apricot, and Dianthus, symbols that underscore themes of transience and the fleeting beauty of nature.
As a floral still life, it reflects the Dutch Golden Age fascination with botanical detail and moralizing motifs, inviting contemplation of life's impermanence.
Technique & Style
No source addresses the present condition of the painting or specific stylistic descriptors beyond genre and medium.
Bouquet with Blue Iris in a Glass Vase is executed in oil paint, a medium consistent with Jan Davidsz. de Heem's floral still-life practice. The work is classified as a painting and belongs to the floral painting genre, depicting a bouquet that includes a blue iris, tulip, butterfly, snail, apricot, and Dianthus arranged in a glass vase.
The support is a panel or canvas measuring 47.5 cm in height by 37 cm in width, a modest vertical format suited to a tightly composed bouquet. The handling reflects the meticulous, detail-rich approach associated with de Heem's bouquet compositions, in which individual blossoms, insects, and small fruits are rendered with close observation against a dark ground.
No source addresses the present condition of the painting or specific stylistic descriptors beyond genre and medium.
History & Provenance
Bouquet with Blue Iris in a Glass Vase is held by the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden at its Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister. The work is catalogued under inventory number 4756. It was first exhibited in 1660 and has remained in the museum's collection without documented temporary exhibitions.
Context
Bouquet with Blue Iris in a Glass Vase (1660) exemplifies Jan Davidsz. de Heem's mastery of Dutch Golden Age floral still lifes, showcasing meticulous detail and vibrant color harmony within the genre. The work's composition, featuring irises alongside tulips, butterflies, and snails, reflects the artist's signature style of integrating symbolic elements with botanical accuracy, situating it within his significant influence on 17th-century Dutch painting. Its presence in the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister collection at Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden underscores its recognized scholarly and curatorial importance as a prime example of his contribution to floral painting.
Overview
Bouquet with Blue Iris in a Glass Vase, a 1660 oil painting by Jan Davidsz. de Heem, is a characteristic Dutch Golden Age still life. The composition features a densely packed arrangement of flowers, including carnations and irises, accompanied by fruit and a butterfly, set against a dark background.
Legacy
As one of de Heem's technically accomplished works, Bouquet with Blue Iris in a Glass Vase continues to represent the pinnacle of Dutch still-life painting of its era, influencing subsequent generations of artists with its meticulous detail and expressive use of impasto.
Artist & collection
Artist
Maria van Oosterwijck (1630–1693), also spelled Oosterwyck, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, specialising in richly detailed flower paintings and other still lifes.
